Mechanical fan.



No. 799,004. PATENTBD SEPT. 5, 1905. A. E. HOVEY. MECHANICAL FAN.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.11, 1904. RENEWED AUG. 9,1905.

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,J70/fg j Inventor.

ttomegs ALFRED E. HOVEY, OF CASS LAKE, MINNESOTA, HALF TO OLE FERGUSON, OF CASS LAKE,

ASSlCrNOR OF ONE- MINNESOTA.

NIECHANlCAL FAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 5, 1905.

Application lile. October ll., 1904. Renewed August 9, 1905. Serial No. 273,492.

Be it known that I, ALFRED E. Hover, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cass Lake, in the county of Cass and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Mechanical Fan, of which the following is aspecitieation.

This invention relates to mechanical fans, and while capable of use in many relations desired direction. The rotary fan 3, which may be of any preferred construction, is mounted externally at one end of the case and is protected by means of a cage 4, carried by the case and embracing the fan. A cord,

chain, or the like 5 is connected to the device at the upper end of the handle and is susit is particularly adapted to barber-shops for drying the face and scalp after shaving and shampooing.

It is furtl'iermore designed to provide for hanging the fan in an elevated position above the head of the barber, so as not to interfere with his general .work and at the same time to be in position to be conveniently reached and drawn down for use.

Further objects of the invention are to normally maintain the fan inactive, to eli'ect winding of the spring-motor which runs the fan when the device is being drawn down into position for use, to set the fan in operation after it has been brought into position for use, to effect automatic elevation of the fan when released, and to automatically stop the fan upon being released by the operator.

With these and other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying' drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims` it being' understood that changes in the form, proportion, size, and minor details may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation illustrating the hanging of the device in its normal position. Fig'. i2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the device, the rotatable fan member being omitted for lack of room. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a plan section on the line et A of Fig. 2.

Like figures of reference designate corresponding' parts in each and every figure of the drawings.

The motor and its cooperating parts of the present device are contained within a casing l, from the middle of which rises a tubular handle 2, which contains the controlling parts of the device and is employed for handling the fan, so as to direct the air-blast in any pended from a bracket, screw, or the like 6, secured to the ceiling 7 in any suitable inanner. As best indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, it will be seen that the fan shaft or arbor 8 eX- tends through an opening 9 in the front of the case, which constitutes one bearing for the shaft, while its forward end is mounted in a bearing 10, carried by the front of the cage d, whereby the fan-shaft is effectually braced, so as to run smoothly.

For driving the fan there is a motel' which includes a coiled spring 11, connected to a d rive-gear 1Q, which is mounted to turn loosely upon a shaft 13, carried by the opposite sides of the case. A pinion 14 is in mesh with the gear l2 and is carried by a shaft l5, upon which a relatively large gear 16 is mounted and is in mesh with a pinion 1T, carried by a shaft 18, which has one end mounted in one side of the case and its opposite end supported in a bracket 19, which is secured to the upright sides of the case. A crown-gear 2O is upon the shaft 18 and meshes with a pinion 21, carried by the inner end of the fan-shaft, said inner end portion being supported in a bracket 22, carried by the case.

At one side of the spring 11 and upon the shaft 13 is a winding-drum 23, around which is wound a belt or cord 24, which passes upwardly through an opening 25 in the top of the case into the handle and thence outwardly through an opening Q6 in the top of the handle, where it is provided with an eye 27, to which the suspending-cord 5 is connected. By this arrangement and a connection between the drum and the spring 11, as will be hereinafter described, said spring is wound up when the device is drawn down from its elevated position by reason of the rotation of the drum in the direction of the arrow due to the unwinding of the belt 24, which is connected to the suspending element 5.

For connecting the winding-d rum and the spring 11 that face of the drum which is next to the spring is provided with a pair of arcuate cam or ratchet ribs 28, which are designed to cooperate with radial arms 29, carried by IOO vice downward from its normal elevated position.

In order that the drum may be shifted upon the'shaft 13, a shifting-lever 32 is provided with its upper portion contained within the handle 2 and projected downwardly through an opening 33 in the top of the case, the lower 7end of the lever being provided with a fork 34 to straddle the shaft 13 and bear against the outer end of a pinion 35, carried by the outer side of the drum. The lever 32 is fulcrumed intermediate of its ends upon a bracket 36, carried within the handle, and its upper end is provided with a lateral extension or arm 37, working through a suitable perforation in one side of the handle adjacent its-upper end and having' a head or finger piece 38 upon its outer end, with a helical spring'39 interposed between the head and the handle,

so as to normally and yieldably hold the forked end of the shifting-lever away from the drum,

thereby to normally maintain the drum and the spring disconnected. By pressing inwardly upon the head or linger piece 38 the lower or forked end of the lever will shift the drum upon the shaft 13 into connection with' the spring' 11 for winding the same. When the device is being drawn down into position for use, the finger-piece 38 should be be pressed so as to shift the drum into connection with the spring in order that the latter may be wound up during the downward movement of the device, after which the iin.- ger-piece should be released to permit of the drum backing away from the spring in order that the latter may unwind, and thereby transmit rotary motion to the fan through the medium of the train of gears hereinbefore described.

In order that the device may be automatically run up to its normal elevated position, a coiled spring 40 is mounted upon a shaft 41, carried within the casein rear of the main spring 1 1, there being a gear 42 carried by the shaft andin mesh with the pinion 35 carried by the drum, whereby the spring 40 is wound up by the rotation of the windingdrum 23 when the device is being drawn down into position for use. During the use of the device the spring' 40 is maintained under tension; but just as soon as the device is released the spring 4() is of course released and tends to rotate the drum 23 in a direction to wind the belt 24 thereon, whereby the entire de- Vnormal position, and by reason of the ratchet connection between the drum 1andthe spring 11 the latter will be unaffected by the upward movement of the device.

In order that the rotation of the fan may be immediately stopped whenA the device is released and permitted to run up to its normal position, a brake mechanism is provided including a spring-arm 43, lying below the spring-motor, (best shown in Fig. 2,) with one end connected to the rear end of the case, as at 44, and its front forward end provided with an npstanding branch 45 and extending across the pinion 21. A trip-rod 46 is connected to and rises from the intermediate portion of the spring-arm through an opening 47 inthe t-op of the case and also through the opening 26 in the top of the handle into position for contact with a trip-plate 48, carried by the upper projected end of the belt 24 external of the handle. A helical spring 49 is connected to the arm 43 and to the top of the case, so as to place the desired upward tension upon the arm in order that it may readily spring upward when the trip-rod 46 is disengaged from the' trip-plate 48. When the device is at its upper limit, the trip-rod 46 is depressed by contact with the trip-plate 48, thereby forcing the spring-arm 43 downwardly andV pressing the brake portion 50 thereof upon the top of the pinion 21, so as to retain the latter stationary, and thereby lock the entire motor and prevent rotation of the fan. wardly the trip-rod 46 of course recedes from the trip-plate 48, whereby the springarm 43 is released and springs upwardly, thereby removing the brake portion 50 from the pinion 21, and thus releasing the motor, which continues to operate until the spring runs down or until the device is permitted to run up to its normal elevated position.

It will now be understood that when the main spring 11 has run down it may be rewound by permitting the device to ascend and then drawing the same downwardly, thisoperation being repeated as often as required to wind the spring 11 to any desired degree.

In using the device, the main spring 11 being wound or partially wound and the entire device in its normal elevated position, the handle 2 is grasped and the device drawn downwardly, thereby removing the trip-plate 48 from the trip-rod 46 and permitting the brake to spring away from the pinion 21', thereby releasing the spring-motor, so as to rotate the fan, the device then being manipulated by the handle 2 to direct the blast of the fan i-n any direction. When the fan operation has been completed, the handle is released and the device is permitted to automatically run up to its original position, so as to be out of the way when not required for use. Should the main spring 11 run down,

Upon drawing the device down' IOO IIS

the. ting'er-piece 38 is pressed when the device is being' drawn down, so as to shit't the winding-drum into connection with the spring' 1l in order that the latter may be wound during' the downward movement ot' the device.

From the Jt` .u'eg'oing' description it will be understood that the present device includes two separate spring-motors, one for actuating' the t'an and the other t'or elevating' the device, both of the spring's being' simultaneously wound by the winding-drum 23, and the winding' ot' the spring' is automatically performed by drawing' the device downwardly, thereby' dispensing' with the employment ot a key or keys tor winding the spring'.

Having' fully described the invention, what is claimed is"- 1. ln a mechanical t'an, the combination ot a trame, a rotary tan carried thereby, a spring'- motor for the t'an, a flexible suspending' element, a winding-drum with the suspending' element wound thereon and provided with a clutch connection with the spring' ot' the motor, and another spring-motor having' a g'ear connection with the drum to reverse the rotation ot' the drum for winding' the suspending' element thereon to elevate the device.

Q. A mechanical tan having' aspring'motor t'or actuating' the tan, means to support the device in an inoperative position, means to wind the spring' ot' the motor by the movement ot' the device from its inoperative position to an operative position, and means for automatically returning' the device to its inoperative position.

3. In a mechanical tan, the combination ot' a trame, a t'an carried thereby, means for maintaining' the device in an inoperative position, a spring-motor tor the fan, means t'or winding' the spring' ot' the motor by the movement otl the device from its inoperative position to an operative position, and means rendered operable by the movement ot' the device from its inoperative position to its operative position to automatically return the device to its inoperative position.

4. In a mechanical fan, the combination ot' a frame, a fan carried thereby, means for no1'- mally maintaining the device in an inoperative position, a spring-motor for the fan, a winding' element connected to the supporting' means and rendered active to wind the spring' ot' the motor when the device is moved from an inoperative to an operative position, and a spring-motor connected to the winding' element for operating' the same to return the device to its inoperative position.

5. In a mechanical fan, the combination ot a frame, a fan carried thereby, a motor for the fan, means for supporting' the `fan in an inoperative position, and means for energizing' the motor by the movement ot' the device from its inoperative to its operative position.

6. In a mechanical fan, the combination ot' a frame, a t'an carried thereby, a motor tor the t'an, means t'or supporting' the device in an inoperative position and including' a belt, and a winding-drum having' the belt wound thereon and connected with the motor for energizing' the same by the movement of the device t'rom its inoperative to its operative position.

T. In a mechanical t'an, the combination otl a trame, a tan carried thereby, a motor connected to the t'an, means t'or suspending' the device in an elevated position and including' a belt, and a winding' device carried by the frame with the belt wound thereon and connected to the motor t'or energizing' the same when the device is being' drawn down into an operative position.

8. .In a mechanical At'an, the combination of a trame, a fan carried thereby, a spring-motor carried by the frame and connected to the fan, a \\'inding'- lrum carried by the trame, a suspending' device including' a belt wound upon the drum, a clutch connection between the drum and the motor t'or winding' the spring' thereof when the device is drawn downwardly from its normal elevated position, and a spring-motor connected to the drum for winding' the suspending-belt thereon when the device is released, said spring-motor being' energized by the rotation ot the drum when the device drawn downwardly from its normal elevated position.

9. In a mechanical tan, the combination ot' a frame, a Vt'an thereon, a spring-motor t'or the fan, a wimling'-d1'um, a clutch connection between the drum and the spring' ot` the motor, one ot' the elements ot' the clutch having' a ratchet connection with the spring', and a suspending-belt wound upon the drum.

10. In a mechanical fan, the combination ot` a frame, a tan carried thereby, a spring-motor for the t'an, a clutch element connected with the spring'. a winding-drum having a clutch element, means `for shitting' the winding-drum to eng'ag'e and diseng'ag'e the clutch elements, and a suspending-belt wound upon the drum.

l1. In a mechanical t'an, the combination ot' a frame, a fan carried thereby, a spring-motor t'or the fan, a winding-drum shit'table into and out ot' engagement with respect to the spring' ot' the motor, a suspending-beltwound upon the drum, and a shitting-lever in coperative relation with the drum to shift the same and provided with a linger-piece projected externally ot' the trame.

l2. In a mechanical fan, the combination of a `frame, a device carried thereby, a spring'- motor for the t'an, a winding-drum shit'tably mounted upon the spring-shaft ot' the motor, a clutch connection between the drum and the spring', a suspending'- belt wound upon the IOO IIO

drum, and a shifting-lever having' one end biturcated to straddle the spring-shaft and engaging the drum for shifting the same with the opposite end of the lever projected externally of the frame into position for access.

13. In a mechanical fan, the combination of a case having a handle rising therefrom, of a fan carried by the case, a spring-motor within the case and connected to the fan, a Winding-drum within the case and having a clutch connection with the spring of the motor, a suspending-belt wound upon the drum and projected through the top of the handle,` and a drum-shifting device having a finger-piece projected externally through the handle.

14. In a mechanical fan, the combination of a frame, a fan carried thereby, a spring-motor for the fan, a winding-drum having a clutch connection with the spring of the motor and provided with a gear, another spring geared to the gear o1c the Winding-drum, and a suspending-belt Wound upon the drum.

15. In a mechanical fan, the combination of a case having a handle rising therefrom, of a fan carried by the case, a spring-motor housed within the case and connected to the fan, a Winding-drum having a clutch connection with the spring' of the motor and provided with a gear, another spring geared to the gear of the drum, a suspending-belt Wound upon the drum and projected through the top of the handle, and a shifting-lever to shift the winding-drum into and out of engagement with the spring of the motor and provided with a finger-piece projected externally through the handle.

16. In a mechanical fan, the combination With a frame, of a fan carried thereby, a motor connected to the fan, suspending means to permit vertical movement of the device, a brake for the motor and provided with a trip member, and a trip member carried by the supporting means for contact With the trip memberof the brake.

17. In a mechanical fan, the combination of a frame, a fan carried thereby, a motor for the fan, a spring-pressed brake for the motor, a trip member for the brake, suspending means for the device to permit vertical movement thereon, and a trip member carried by the suspending device for engagement with the trip member of tlie brake to apply said brake.

18. In a mechanical fan, the combination of a frame having a handle rising therefrom, suspending means extending through an opening in the top of the handle to permit vertical movement of the device thereon, a trip carried by the suspending device and located above the handle, a fan carried by the frame, a motor connected to the fan, a brake for the motor, and a trip device connected to the brake and projected through the top of the handle into position for engagement by the first-mentioned trip device at the upper limit of the fan to apply the brake.

19. In a mechanical fan, the combination of a frame, a fan carried thereby, a motor for the fan, a spring-actuating drum, a suspending-belt Wound upon the drum, a brake for the motor, a trip carried by the suspendingbelt, and another trip connected to the brake and in the path of the first-mentioned trip.

20. In a mechanical fan, the combination of ,a frame having a handle rising therefrom, a

fan carried by the frame, a spring-motor for the fan, a shiftable Winding-drum having a clutch connection With the spring of the motor, another spring geared to the Windingdrum, a drum-shifting lever having a lingerpiece projected laterally through the handle, a suspending-belt Wound upon the drum and projected through the top ot' the handle, a trip carried by the suspending-belt above the handle, a brake for the motor, and a trip-rod connected to the brake and projected through the top of the handle into position for engagement With the trip on the belt at the upper limit of the device.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

ALFRED E. HOVEY.

Witnesses:

J. E. TAPLEY, J. P. DARGAN. 

